In its latest barometer, the Ecological Transition Agency notes that around a third of French people are not convinced by the implication of the greenhouse effect in climate change. A slightly increasing figure.
When it comes to climate, some French people always blow hot and cold. Climate change is indeed leaving more and more French people perplexed, reveals the 25th barometer of the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe) in October 2024. The idea that climatic disorders, such as storms, droughts or floods, “are natural phenomena as there have always been”increases by 7 percentage points in 2024. A decline that Ademe partly attributes to a French summer “less stressful”and this despite a threatening climatic context “in other European countries and even more in Asia and South America”. The agency deplores “a certain demotivation of the public”all the more paradoxical as the French rely more on the State to fight against the greenhouse effect.
The environment is less of a concern but remains important
The environment is still the main concern of 9% of French people in 2024, but loses 7 points compared to 2016. The environment is now tied with the safety of goods and people, the safety of goods, and health public. Far behind rising prices and immigration, the most important issues for 26% and 15% of respondents respectively.
However, this figure of 9% does not mean that 91% of French people do not care about the environment. On the contrary, the importance given to environmental protection remains strong, since 35% of the 1505 surveyed give it a score of 9 or 10 (the maximum score). A figure that has increased slightly since 2019, and is particularly high among the youngest (15-17 years old).
At the top of environmental concerns, the issue of the greenhouse effect and climate change, which is declining, still comes out on top. In 2024, more than 31% of respondents place this issue as a priority among environmental problems, compared to 36% in 2023.
Nearly a third of the public still not convinced by the climate consensus
Ademe notes that around a third of the public is not convinced by the broad scientific consensus on the involvement of the greenhouse effect in global warming. A fairly stable figure since the first barometer recorded by the agency in 2011.
Thus, 71% of those questioned credit the scientific community with their good faith, believing that it «year[e] correctly address the risks of climate change”. More confidence among the youngest (76%) and higher education graduates (77%). Politically, respondents “very left” give their confidence to 91%, a clear difference compared to those surveyed “very right”for whom this figure is only 57%.
The successive IPCC reports, notes Ademe, no longer seem to cause any tangible change among those surveyed. The idea that climate change is due to human activity even loses two percentage points between 2023 (64%) and 2024 (62%). A slight decline which benefits a relative climate skepticism, which wins the support of 32% of respondents, against 30% in 2023. This skepticism does not call into question climate change, but doubts that it is of human origin.
Facing climate change
Climate change, however, does not leave the French unmoved: only 9% of respondents believe that there is nothing to do about climate change, a figure which has continued to decline since 2009. Furthermore, nearly 60% of respondents are aware that it will be necessary “change significantly” their lifestyles in order to “limit climate change”.
Awareness is accompanied by a systematic increase in the desire to adopt policies to combat the greenhouse effect. In 2024, this desire will increase on average by 5 percentage points, affecting even the least popular measures, such as urban densification aimed at limiting residential areas (+8 points) and the increase in the carbon tax (+6 points). ).
Nevertheless, Ademe observes a slight demobilization on an individual scale. Thus, the agency records a reduction of six percentage points, actions that the French say they are taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “Without exaggerating the meaning of this contradiction”concludes Ademe, “everything happens as if, faced with the tangible scale of the consequences of climate change, we are witnessing less involvement at the individual level and greater demand from the State.”
